Safety stocking

ABSTRACT

A safety stocking ( 10 ) in the form of a sock ( 11 ) includes an elastic, stretchable fabric portion ( 12 ) and an anti-skid tread portion ( 13 ). The foot section ( 14 ) has a top surface ( 19 ) and a bottom surface ( 20 ). The bottom surface is joined to the anti-skid tread portion. The anti-skid tread portion extends continuously and symmetrically from a first point ( 23 ) adjacent the toes of a wearer to a second point ( 24 ) adjacent the heal of a wearer. The anti-skid tread portion is made of a nitrile composite to increases the anti-skid capabilities of the safety stocking.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to stockings and more specifically to non-slip safety sock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heretofore, stockings have been designed in the form of a sock which includes a pattern of flexible material applied to the sole. The purpose of the flexible material is to restrict slippage as the wearer stands or walks upon a floor and provide a continuous barrier on the bottom of the sock from fluids or moisture beads when in contact with the floor surface. These types of stockings may be used by medical patients, yoga participants, or people relaxing at home.

While the patterned, flexible material provides increased traction, such may still result in foot slippage upon the underlying floor. Furthermore, the typical flexible material does not prevent sharp objects from piercing the sole of the stocking and harming the foot. In addition, the thin flexible sole provides a barrier to moisture and is, in face, non-absorbent.

Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a safety stocking that provides a better slip and puncture resistance and moisture barrier. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred form of the invention a safety stocking comprises a stretchable fabric material forming a foot section and a leg section. The foot section has a top surface and a bottom surface. The stocking also includes a non-skid tread coupled to the bottom surface of the foot section so as to extend beneath at least the toes and heal of a wearer. The non-skid tread is made of a nitrile rubber composite layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the safety stocking shown in a worn state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the safety stocking shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a safety stocking 10 in a preferred form of the invention. The stocking 10 is in the form of a sock 11 having an elastic, stretchable fabric material portion 12 and an anti-skid tread portion 13. The fabric portion 12 has a foot section 14 joined to a leg section 15. The leg section 15 may be of various lengths such as to end at different heights along the wearer's leg at a cuff 16. The stocking may, of course, be produced in any number of overall sizes to fit people of different foot sizes.

The foot section 14 has a top surface 19 and a bottom surface 20. The bottom surface 20 is joined to the anti-skid tread portion 13. The anti-skid tread portion 13 extends continuously from a first point 23 below and adjacent the toes of a wearer to a second point 24 below and adjacent the heal of a wearer, i.e., the tread portion 13 is unbroken from one end to another rather than a pattern of segments. The anti-skid tread portion 13 is also symmetrical along a longitudinal axis LA so that the stocking may be worn on either foot, i.e., the stocking is not formed to fit a particular foot but may be worn on either the right or left foot. The toe end of the foot section 14 is formed with a seam 26 along the top surface in the toe area nested in the terry cloth knit approximately aligned with the commencement of the wearer's toes, thereby forming a terry cloth toe pocket 27.

The anti-skid tread portion 13 is made of a nitrile composite. It has been discovered that a nitrile based rubber composite increases the anti-skid capabilities of the safety stocking. The increase in the anti-skid capabilities is illustrated by the following table showing the coefficient of friction associated with such.

TABLE 1 DRY CONDITION Static Vari- Variance Kinetic Vari- Variance product Coeff. ance % Coeff. ance % Safety 1.72 1.51 Tread Alba 1.09 0.63 36.6 1.1 0.41 27.2 Care Step PBE 1.02 0.70 40.7 0.887 0.62 41.3

The dry condition comparative test results appear in Table 1 where the Safety Tread product is a safety stocking of the present invention, the Alba Care Step product is a safety stocking produced by Albahealth, LCC of Rockwood, Tenn. which includes a tread pattern made of PVC material, and the PBE product is a safety stocking made by Principle Business Enterprises (PBE) of Dunbridge, Ohio and sold under the name Novaplus having a tread pattern made of a PVC material. The tabulated improvement was in the measured coefficient of friction of the safety stocking. The safety tread has a superior coefficient of friction in both Static and Kinetic testing. The Safety Tread (Nitrile) product had a static measurement of 1.72 compared to the Alba Care Step (PVC) product measurement of 1.09 and a kinetic measurement of 1.51 compared to Alba Care Step product measurement of 1.1. This equates to a coefficient of friction that is 36.6% higher in the Static position and 27.2% higher in the Kinetic position. The Safety Tread (Nitrile) product also had a static measurement of 1.72 compared to the PBE (PVC) Product measurement of 1.02 and a kinetic measurement of 1.51 compared to the PBS product measurement of 0.887. This equates to a coefficient of friction that is 40.7% higher in the Static position and 41.3% higher in the Kinetic position. This substantially higher coefficient of friction greatly improves the traction of the safety stocking, thereby greatly reducing the potential of a person slipping on the underlying floor. The goal of reducing slippage is extremely desirous to healthcare, home care, and hospital facilities and the like as such may result in great bodily harm to the weak or elderly, or where normal gait has been affected and may result in greater liability to the medical facility.

This testing was conducted by PTI a division of Intertek of Pittsfield, Mass. utilizing a test standard of ASTM 1894-08 Coefficient of Friction on a linoleum surface utilizing an Instron Series 5565 device.

In use, the fabric portion 12 is made in any conventional manner. Once the fabric portion 12 is complete it is positioned on a form resembling a human foot but with the foot bottom surface made flat to ease the formation of the non-skid portion. The anti-skid tread portion 13 is then joined or applied to the foot section bottom surface 20. The anti-skid tread portion 13 is applied by screen printing the tread portion 13 upon the bottom surface 20 of the foot section. Preferably, the silkscreen size is a 4× mesh having approximately 65 to 85 holes per square inch.

The screen printing process utilizes a viscous nitrile composite. The nitrile composite preferably includes the following materials: PVC resin (60% by weight), phthalate plasticizer as a carrier (25% by weight), color pigment (3% by weight), organic glowing agent (2% by weight), and nitrile rubber crumb compounded into a solution in phthalate plasticizer 9.4% by weight). The nitrile composite weighs approximately 10.9 pounds per gallon, has a viscosity of approximately 440,000 CPS and a Durometer reading of 42. It should be understood that this is simply one manner of formulating the nitrile composite and that other formulations may be utilized for the same purpose.

The anti-skid tread portion 13 preferably covers the vast majority of the foot section bottom surface in one continuous form, rather than the pattern of multiple segments of the prior art. The continuous pattern provides the added benefit of covering the entire sole of the wearer's foot with the tread portion 13 rather than providing intermediate spaces of fabric between adjacent segments which may allow sharp objects to easily penetrate the bottom surface and inflict harm upon the wearer's foot and minimize the penetration of fluids or moisture beads through the bottom of the sock.

As an alternative to using a foot form with the screen printing process, the fabric portion may be laid flat and the tread portion 13 is then applied by “direct” printing to the bottom surface 20.

Also, as an alternative to the direct printing method of applying the tread portion, the tread portion 13 may be applied by a heat transfer, or also known as hot-split method. Here, the tread portion 13 is initially formed as a partially gelled form in the shape of the tread portion and place on transfer paper. The partially gelled form is placed upon the bottom surface 20 wherein heat and pressure is applied to it causing it to permanently bond to the bottom surface.

The foot section includes a fully formed heel pocket to position the anterior portion of the foot above the heel portion of the sole material. This design helps minimize “side-to-side” undesired movement within the upper when worn. The foot section also features a formed toe pocket of terry cloth (looped) knit. This is to comfort and cushion the top and bottom of the toe area. Further, the sock is seamed at the toe with seaming that nests into the terry cloth loops. This minimizes any potential skin irritation to the top of the toe area.

It thus is seen that a safety stocking is now provided that provides greater non-skid, puncture resistant, and moisture barrier capabilities. Although the stocking has been illustrated and described in its preferred form, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions may be made to that specific form without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A safety stocking comprising: a stretchable fabric material forming a foot section and a leg section, said foot section having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a non-skid tread coupled to said bottom surface of said foot section so as to extend beneath at least the toes and heal of a wearer, said non-skid tread being made of a nitrile rubber composite layer.
 2. The safety stocking of claim 1 wherein said non-skid tread extends continuously from a first position adjacent the toe of a wearer to a second position adjacent the heal of a wearer.
 3. The safety stocking of claim 2 wherein said non-skid tread is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis.
 4. A safety stocking comprising: a sock portion having a bottom surface; and a nitrile based rubber tread coupled to said bottom surface of said sock.
 5. The safety stocking of claim 4 wherein said nitrile based rubber tread extends continuously from a first position adjacent the toe of a wearer to a second position adjacent the heal of a wearer.
 6. The safety stocking of claim 5 wherein nitrile based rubber tread is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis. 